Multicomponent static mixer for mixing components

Abstract

The separating wall comprises a free downstream edge which is disposed with respect to at least one of the entry openings so as to allow at least partial flows of the components separated by the separating wall to combine after exceeding the downstream edge and to jointly enter said at least one of the entry openings.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A static mixer for mixing together at least two components, comprising:
 a mixer housing; 
 a mixing element having an upstream end with at least two entry openings and a downstream end, the mixing element being arranged at least partly within the mixer housing; 
 a mixing head having at least two inlets provided at an input side and at least two outlets provided at an output surface, each of the at least two inlets in fluid communication with one of the at least two outlets; 
 a separating wall disposed between the output surface and the up-stream end of the mixing element for separating the components leaving the outlets, 
 
       the separating wall comprising a free downstream edge disposed with respect to at least one of the entry openings so as to enable at least partial flows of the components separated by the separating wall to combine after exceeding the downstream edge and to jointly enter the at least one of the entry openings; and
 at least one flow obstruction disposed between the upstream end of the mixing element and the output surface for deflecting the components or at least partial flows of the components; and 
 an intermediate wall traversing at least two segments of the separating wall such that the intermediate wall divides each of three partial flows that exceed the downstream edge of the separating wall on one side of the two segments, between the two segments, and on the other side of the two segments, respectively, into two. 
 
     
     
       2. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating wall has a meandering pattern. 
     
     
       3. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating wall comprises at least two segments that are in parallel to each other. 
     
     
       4. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating wall comprises the following segments in the stated order: 
       a curved segment, a linear segment, a linear or curved segment, a linear segment and a curved segment. 
     
     
       5. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating wall comprises thickened segments for reducing a volume accessible for the components when leaving the outlets. 
     
     
       6. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating wall at least partially frames at least one of the at least two outlets or at least one of the at least two entry openings. 
     
     
       7. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating wall is integrally formed with the mixing element or with the mixing head. 
     
     
       8. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating wall, the mixing head, and the mixing element are a one-piece construction. 
     
     
       9. The static mixer according to  claim 8 , wherein the one-piece construction is formed by injection molding. 
     
     
       10. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate wall is disposed between the upstream end of the mixing element and the separating wall. 
     
     
       11. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate wall traverses at least one linear segment of the separating wall at an angle of between 70° and 110°. 
     
     
       12. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate wall traverses at least one linear segment of the separating wall at an angle of between 80° and 100°. 
     
     
       13. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate wall traverses at least one linear segment of the separating wall at an angle of between 85° and 95°. 
     
     
       14. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate wall traverses at least one linear segment of the separation wall at an angle of approximately 90°. 
     
     
       15. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow obstruction is disposed between the downstream edge of the separating wall and the upstream end of the mixing element or is essentially disposed in one plane with the downstream edge of the separating wall. 
     
     
       16. The static mixer according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixing element comprises a plurality of mixer elements arranged one after another for a repeated separation and re-combination of streams of the components to be mixed. 
     
     
       17. The static mixer according to  claim 16 , wherein the mixing element comprises mixer elements for separating the material to be mixed into a plurality of streams, and elements configured for the layered merging of the same, including a transverse edge and guide walls that extend at an angle to the transverse edge, as well as guide elements arranged at an angle to a longitudinal axis and provided with openings, the mixing element comprising a transverse edge and a following transverse guide wall and at least two guide walls ending in a separating edge each with lateral end sections and with at least one bottom section disposed between the guide walls, thereby defining at least one opening on one side of the transverse edge and at least two openings on the other side of the transverse edge. 
     
     
       18. The static mixer according to  claim 16 , wherein the mixing element comprises mixer elements for separating the material to be mixed into a plurality of streams, and elements configured for layered merging of the same, including separating edges and a transverse edge that extends at an angle to the separating edges, as well as deflecting elements arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis and provided with openings, the mixing element comprising at least two separating edges with following guide walls with lateral end sections and with at least one bottom section disposed between the guide walls, and a transverse edge arranged at one end of a transverse guide wall, thereby defining at least one opening on one side of the transverse edge and at least two openings on the other side of the transverse edge. 
     
     
       19. A dispensing apparatus comprising a multi-component cartridge and the static mixer according to  claim 1  connected to the multi-component cartridge. 
     
     
       20. The dispensing apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the multi-component cartridge is filled with respective components. 
     
     
       21. A method comprising:
 employing a static mixer to dispense components from a multi-component cartridge, the static mixer including a mixer housing, a mixing element having an upstream end with at least two entry openings and a downstream end, the mixing element being arranged at least partly within the mixer housing, a mixing head having at least two inlets provided at an input side and at least two outlets provided at an output surface, each of the at least two inlets in fluid communication with one of the at least two outlets, a separating wall disposed between the output surface and the up-stream end of the mixing element, the separating wall separating the components leaving the outlets, and comprising a free downstream edge disposed with respect to at least one of the entry openings so as to enable at least partial flows of the components separated by the separating wall to combine after exceeding the downstream edge and to jointly enter the at least one of the entry openings, and at least one flow obstruction disposed between the upstream end of the mixing element and the output surface for deflecting the components or at least partial flows of the components, and an intermediate wall traversing at least two segments of the separating wall such that the intermediate wall divides each of three partial flows that exceed the downstream edge of the separating wall on one side of the two segments, between the two segments, and on the other side of the two segments, respectively, into two. 
 
     
     
       22. A method comprising:
 providing a dispensing apparatus comprising a multi-component cartridge and a static mixer connected to the multi-component cartridge, the static mixer including a mixer housing, a mixing element having an upstream end with at least two entry openings and a downstream end, the mixing element being arranged at least partly within the mixer housing, a mixing head having at least two inlets provided at an input side and at least two outlets provided at an output surface, each of the at least two inlets in fluid communication with one of the at least two outlets, a separating wall disposed between the output surface and the up-stream end of the mixing element, the separating wall separating the components leaving the outlets, and comprising a free downstream edge disposed with respect to at least one of the entry openings so as to enable at least partial flows of the components separated by the separating wall to combine after exceeding the downstream edge and to jointly enter the at least one of the entry openings, at least one flow obstruction disposed between the upstream end of the mixing element and the output surface for deflecting the components or at least partial flows of the components, and an intermediate wall traversing at least two segments of the separating wall such that the intermediate wall divides each of three partial flows that exceed the downstream edge of the separating wall on one side of the two segments, between the two segments, and on the other side of the two segments, respectively, into two; and 
 operating the dispensing apparatus to dispense components from the multi-component cartridge via the static mixer. 
 
     
     
       23. A static mixer for mixing together at least two components comprising:
 a mixer housing; 
 a mixing element having an upstream end with at least two entry openings and a downstream end, the mixing element being arranged at least partly within the mixer housing; 
 a mixing head having at least two inlets provided at an input side and at least two outlets provided at an output surface, wherein each of the at least two inlets is in fluid communication with one of the at least two outlets; and 
 a separating wall disposed between the output surface and the upstream end of the mixing element for separating the components leaving the outlets, 
 the separating wall comprising a free downstream edge which is disposed with respect to at least one of the entry openings so as to allow at least partial flows of the components separated by the separating wall to combine after exceeding the downstream edge and to jointly enter said at least one of the entry openings, and the separating wall surrounding at least one of the at least two outlets or at least one of the at least two entry openings along at least a quarter of a perimeter of the at least one of the at least two outlets or the at least one of the at least two entry openings.